IN THE SECOND EDITION.

Then to the rolling Heav'n itself I cried,Asking, «What Lamp had Destiny to guide«Her little Children stumbling in the Dark?»And—«A blind Understanding» Heav'n replied.

XLV.

But leave the Wise to wrangle, and with meThe quarrel of the Universe let be;And, in some corner of the Hubbub coucht,Make Game of that which makes as much of Thee.

XXXVII.

Ah! fill the Cup—what boots it to repeatHow Time is slipping underneath our Feet?Unborn To-morrow and dead Yesterday.Why fret about them if To-day be sweet?

In the first edition we find quatrain No. 33, which, like its distant cousin in the fourth edition (No. 34), appears to have no near parallel in the texts. No. 45 is a quatrain in a like predicament, and it may be for this reason that FitzGerald dropped it out of all subsequent editions.

The only other quatrain peculiar to the first edition is No. 37. This would appear to have been inspired by ll. 3 and 4 of O. 20, quoted in the parallels to quatrain No. 57 and by O. 17, ll. 3 and 4.

Nothing thou canst say of yesterday, that is past, is sweet;Be happy and do not speak of yesterday, for to-day is sweet.

Ref.: O. 17, C. 84, L. 193, B. 190, P. 126, B. ii. 59, T. 65 and 352, P. iv. 68, P. v. 62.—W 112, E.C. 6, V. 189.

The quatrains peculiar to the second edition are as follows:

XIV.

Were it not Folly, Spider-like to spinThe Thread of present Life away to win—What? for ourselves, who know not if we shallBreathe out the very Breath we now breathe in!

This quatrain is inspired by O. 136.

How long shall I grieve about what I have or have not,And whether I shall pass this life light-heartedly or not?Fill up the wine-cup, for I do not knowThat I shall breathe out the breath that I am drawing in.

Ref.: O. 136, C. 504 and 427, L. 740, B. 726, S.P. 362, P. 207, B. ii. 484, P. v. 64.—W. 411, N. 366, V. 730.

XXVIII.

This was replaced by No. 63 in the fourth and fifth editions, taken from the same original.

XLIV.

Do you, within your little hour of Grace,The waving Cypress in your Arms enlace,Before the Mother back into her armsFold, and dissolve you in a last embrace.

The sentiment of this quatrain is traceable in C. 189, ll. 1 and 2, and in C. 195.

Be happy! for the time will come(When) all bodies will be hidden in the earth.

Ref.: C. 189, L. 393, B. 389, S.P. 160, B. ii. 203.—N. 160, V. 390.

My whole mood is in sympathy with rosy cheeks,My hand is always grasping the wine cup;I exact from every part (of me) its allotted function,Ere that those parts (of me) be mingled with the all.

Ref.: C. 195, L. 349, B. 345, S.P. 163, P. 287, B. ii. 206, T. 122.—W. 181, N. 163, V. 349.

LXV.

If but the Vine and Love-abjuring BandAre in the Prophet's Paradise to stand,Alack, I doubt the Prophet's ParadiseWere empty as the hollow of one's Hand.

This quatrain is inspired by O. 127 and by C. 60.

To drink wine and consort with a company of the beautifulIs better than practising the hypocrisy of the zealot;If the lover and the drunkard are doomed to hell,Then no one will see the face of heaven.

Ref.: O. 127, L. 608, B. 601, S.P. 339, P. 330, B. ii. 453, P. v. 151.—W. 381, N. 342, V. 655.

FitzGerald was evidently «reminded of» this by N. 64 which is C. 60.

They say that drunkards will go to hell,It is a repugnant creed, the heart cannot believe it;If drunken lovers are doomed to hell,To-morrow heaven will be bare like the palm of one's hand.

Ref.: C. 60, L. 158, B. 155, S.P. 64, T. 308, P. v. 29.—W. 67, N 64, V. 156.

LXXVII.

For let Philosopher and Doctor preachOf what they will, and what they will not,—eachIs but one Link in an eternal ChainThat none can slip, or break, or over-reach.

For this quatrain I can find neither authority nor inspiration.

LXXXVI.

Nay, but, for terror of his wrathful Face,I swear I will not call Injustice Grace;Not one Good Fellow of the Tavern butWould kick so poor a Coward from the place.

I think the inspiration for this must have been C. 8.

No man is he whom his fellow men spurn,And (at the same time) for fear of his malice number among the good;If a drunkard shows reluctance in generosity,All his fellow drunkards hold him to be a mean fellow.

Ref.: C. 8, L. 3, B. ii. 15, T. 9.—V. 416.

XC.

And once again there gather'd a scarce heardWhisper among them; as it were, the stirr'dAshes of some all but extinguisht Tongue,Which mine ear kindled into living Word.

This was a fourth quatrain evolved out of O. 103.Videquatrains Nos. 82, 83, and 87ante.

XCIX.

Whither resorting from the vernal HeatShall Old Acquaintance Old Acquaintance greet,Under the Branch that leans above the WallTo shed his Blossom over head and feet.

This quatrain, interpolated after No. 91 of the fourth edition (= No. 98 of the second edition), is an elaboration founded upon the story told by Nizam ul-Mulk and recorded by FitzGerald in his Introduction.

CVII.

Better, oh better, cancel from the ScrollOf Universe one luckless Human Soul,Than drop by drop enlarge the Flood that rollsHoarser with Anguish as the Ages roll.

This quatrain, interpolated after the quatrain which became No. XCVIII. in the fourth edition, was no doubt inspired by N. 457 (q.v. subNo. 98ante) and by O. 54.

What the Pen has written never changes,And grieving only results in deep affliction;Even through all thy life thou weepest tears of blood,Not one drop becomes increased beyond what it is.

Ref.: O. 54, B. ii. 144.

STANZA

I.In ed. 2:

Wake! For the Sun behind yon Eastern heightHas chased the Session of the Stars from Night;And, to the field of Heav'n ascending, strikesThe Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.

In the first draft of ed. 3 the first and second lines stood thus

Wake! For the Sun before him into NightA Signal flung that put the Stars to flight.

II.In ed. 2:

Why lags the drowsy Worshipper outside?

V.In edd. 2 and 3:

But still a Ruby gushes from the Vine.

IX.In edd. 2 and 3:

Morning a thousand Roses brings, you say.

X.In ed. 2:

Let Rustum cry «To Battle!» as he likes,Or Hatim Tai «To Supper!»—heed not you

In ed. 3:

Let Zal and Rustum thunder as they will.

STANZA

XII.In ed. 2:

Here with a little Bread beneath the Bough,A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse—and Thou, etc.

XIII.In ed. 2:

Ah, take the Cash, and let the Promise go,Nor heed the music of a distant Drum!

XX.In ed. 2:

And this delightful Herb whose living Green.

XXII.In edd. 2 and 3:

That from his Vintage rolling Time has prest.

XXVI.In edd. 2 and 3.

Of the Two Worlds so learnedly, are thrust.

XXVII.In ed. 2:

Came out by the same door as in I went.

XXVIII.In edd. 2 and 3.

And with my own hand wrought to make it grow.

XXX.In ed. 2.

Ah, contrite Heav'n endowed us with the VineTo drug the memory of that insolence!

XXXI.In ed. 2:

And many Knots unravel'd by the Road.

XXXII.In edd. 2 and 3:

There was the Veil through which I could not see.

XXXIII.In ed. 2:

Nor Heav'n, with those eternal Signs reveal'd.

XXXIV.In ed. 2:

Then of theThee in Mewho works behindThe Veil of Universe I cried to findA Lamp to guide me through the darkness; andSomething then said—«An Understanding blind.»

XXXV.In ed. 2:

I lean'd, the secret Well of Life to learn.

STANZA

XXXVI.In ed. 2:

And drink; and that impassive Lip I kiss'd.

XXXVIII.In ed. 2 the only difference is «For» instead of «And» in the first line; but in the first draft of ed. 3 the stanza appeared thus:

For, in your Ear a moment—of the samePoor Earth from which that Human Whisper came,The luckless Mould in which Mankind was castThey did compose, and call'd him by the name.

In ed. 3 the first line was altered to—

Listen—a moment listen!—Of the same, etc.

XXXIX.In ed. 2:

On the parcht herbage but may steal below.

XL.In ed. 2:

As then the Tulip for her wonted supOf Heavenly Vintage lifts her chalice up,Do you, twin offspring of the soil, till Heav'nTo Earth invert you like an empty Cup.

In the first draft of ed. 3 the stanza is the same as in edd. 3 and 4, except that the second line is—

Of Wine from Heav'n her little Tass lifts up.

XLI.In ed. 2 and the first draft of ed. 3:

Oh, plagued no more with Human or DivineTo-morrow's tangle to itself resign.

XLII.In ed. 2:

And if the Cup you drink, the Lip you press,End in what All begins and ends in—Yes;Imagine then youarewhat heretoforeYouwere—hereafter you shall not be less.

The first draft of ed. 3 agrees with edd. 3 and 4, except that the first line is—

And if the Cup, and if the Lip you press.

STANZA

XLIII.In ed. 2:

So when at last the Angel of the drinkOf Darkness finds you by the river-brink,And, proffering his Cup, invites your SoulForth to your Lips to quaff it—do not shrink.

In the first draft of ed. 3 the only change made was from «proffering» to «offering,» but in ed. 3 the stanza assumed the form in which it also appeared in ed. 4. The change from «the Angel» to «that Angel» was made in MS. by FitzGerald in a copy of ed. 4.

XLIV.In ed. 2:

Is't not a shame—is't not a shame for himSo long in this Clay suburb to abide!

XLV.In ed. 2:

But that is but a Tent wherein may rest.

XLVI.In ed. 2:

And fear not lest Existence closingyourAccount, should lose, or know the type no more.

XLVII.In ed. 2:

As much as Ocean of a pebble-cast.

In ed. 3:

As theSev'n Seasshould heed a pebble-cast.

XLVIII.In ed. 2:

One Moment in Annihilation's Waste,One Moment, of the Well of Life to taste—The Stars are setting, and the CaravanDraws to the Dawn of Nothing—Oh make haste.

In the first draft of ed. 3 the third line originally stood:

Before the starting Caravan has reach'd

the rest of the stanza being as in edd. 3 and 4.

STANZA

XLIX.In ed. 2:

A Hair, they say, divides the False and True.

The change from «does» to «may» in the last line was made by FitzGerald in MS.

L.In ed. 2:

A Hair, they say, divides the False and True.

LII.In edd. 2 and 3:

He does Himself contrive, enact, behold.

LIII.In the first draft of ed. 3:

To-morrow, when You shall be You no more.

LIV.In ed. 2:

Better be merry with the fruitful Grape.

LV.In ed. 2:

You know, my Friends, how bravely in my HouseFor a new Marriage I did make Carouse.

LVII.In ed. 2:

Have squared the Year to Human Compass, eh?If so, by striking from the Calendar.

LXII.In ed. 2

When the frail Cup is crumbled into Dust!

LXIII.In ed. 2:

The Flower that once is blown for ever dies.

LXV.In edd. 2 and 3:

They told their fellows, and to Sleep return'd.

LXVI.In ed. 2:

And after many days my Soul return'dAnd said, «Behold, Myself am Heav'n and Hell.»

LXVII.In ed. 2:

And Hell the Shadow of a Soul on fire.

LXVIII.In ed. 2:

Of visionary Shapes that come and goRound with this Sun-illumin'd Lantern held.

LXIX.In ed. 2:

Impotent Pieces of the Game He plays.

LXX.In ed. 2:

But Right or Left as strikes the Player goes.

STANZA

LXXII.In ed. 2 and the first draft of ed. 3:

And that inverted Bowl we call The Sky.

In edd. 2 and 3:

As impotently rolls as you or I.

LXXIX.In ed. 2:

Pure Gold for what he lent us dross-allay'd.

LXXXI.In ed. 2:

For all the Sin the Face of wretched ManIs black with—Man's Forgiveness give—and take!

LXXXIII.In ed. 2:

And once again there gather'd a scarce heardWhisper among them; as it were, the stirr'dAshes of some all but extinguisht TongueWhich mine ear kindled into living Word.

LXXXIV.In ed. 2:

My Substance from the common Earth was ta'en,That He who subtly wrought me into ShapeShould stamp me back to shapeless Earth again?

LXXXV.In ed. 2

Another said—«Why, ne'er a peevish BoyWould break the Cup from which he drank in Joy;Shall He that of His own free Fancy madeThe Vessel, in an after-rage destroy!»

LXXXVI.In ed. 2:

None answer'd this, but after silence spake.

LXXXVII.In ed. 2:

Thus with the Dead as with the Living,What?AndWhy?so ready, but theWherefornot,One on a sudden peevishly exclaim'd,«Which is the Potter, pray, and which the Pot?»

STANZA

LXXXVIII.In ed. 2:

Said one—«Folks of a surly Master tell,And daub his Visage with the Smoke of Hell;They talk of some sharp Trial of us—Pish!He's a Good Fellow, and 'twill all be well.»

In the first draft of ed. 3. the stanza begins:

«Why,» said another, «Dismal people tellOf an old Savage who will toss to HellThe luckless Pots,» etc.

LXXXIX.In ed. 2:

«Well,» said another, «Whoso will, let try.»

XC.In ed. 2:

One spied the little Crescent all were seeking.

XCI.In ed. 2:

And wash my Body whence the Life has died.

XCIII.In ed. 2:

Have done my credit in Men's eye much wrong.

XCV.In ed. 2:

One half so precious as the ware they sell.

XCVII.In ed. 2:

Toward which the fainting Traveller might spring.

XCVIII.In ed. 2:

Oh if the World were but to re-create,That we might catch ere closed the Book of Fate,And make The Writer on a fairer leafInscribe our names, or quite obliterate!

XCIX.In ed. 2:

Ah Love! could you and I with Fate conspire.

C.In ed. 2:

But see! The rising Moon of Heav'n againLooks for us, Sweet-heart, through the quivering Plane:How oft hereafter rising will she lookAmong those leaves—for one of us in vain!

STANZA

CI.In ed. 2:

And when Yourself with silver Foot shall pass.

In the first draft of ed. 3 «Foot» is changed to «step.»

In ed. 3:

And in your blissful errand reach the spot.

STANZAS WHICH APPEAR IN THE SECOND EDITION ONLY

XIV.Were it not Folly, Spider-like to spinThe Thread of present Life away to win—What? for ourselves, who know not if we shallBreathe out the very Breath we now breathe in!XX. (This stanza is quoted in the note to stanzaXVIII.in the third and fourth editions.)XXVIII. Another Voice, when I am sleeping, cries,«The Flower should open with the Morning skies.»And a retreating Whisper, as I wake—«The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.»XLIV. Do you, within your little hour of Grace,The waving Cypress in your Arms enlace,Before the Mother back into her armsFold, and dissolve you in a last embrace.LXV. If but the Vine and Love-abjuring BandAre in the Prophet's Paradise to stand,Alack, I doubt the Prophet's ParadiseWere empty as the hollow of one's Hand.LXXVII. For let Philosopher and Doctor preachOf what they will, and what they will not—eachIs but one Link in an eternal ChainThat none can slip, or break, or over-reach.LXXXVI. Nay, but, for terror of his wrathful Face,I swear I will not call Injustice Grace,Not one Good Fellow of the Tavern butWould kick so poor a Coward from the place.XC. And once again there gather'd a scarce heardWhisper among them; as it were, the stirr'dAshes of some all but extinguisht Tongue,Which mine ear kindled into living Word.

(In the third and fourth editions stanza LXXXIII. takes the place of this.)

XCIX. Whither resorting from the vernal HeatShall Old Acquaintance Old Acquaintance greet,Under the Branch that leans above the WallTo shed his Blossom over head and feet.

(This was retained in the first draft of ed. 3.)

CVII. Better, oh better, cancel from the ScrollOf Universe one luckless Human Soul,Than drop by drop enlarge the Flood that rollsHoarser with Anguish as the Ages Roll.

COMPARATIVE TABLE OF STANZAS IN THEFOUR[100]EDITIONS OF FITZGERALD

Ed. 1Ed. 2Edd. 3 and 4IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVIVIVVVVVIVIVIVIIVIIVIIVIIIIXIXIXXXXXIXIXIXIIXIIXIIXIIIXIIIXIIIXVXIVXIVXVIIXVIXVXVIXVXVIXVIIIXVIIXVIIXIXXVIIIXVIIIXXIVXIXXIXXXVXXXXXXIXXIXXIXXIIXXIIXXIIXXIIIXXIIIXXIIIXXVIXXIVXXIVXXVIIXXVXXVXXIXXXVIXXVILXVILXIIIXXVIIXXXXXVIIXXVIIIXXXIXXVIIIXXIXXXXIIXXIXXXXXXXIIIXXXXXXIXXXIVXXXIXXXIIXXXVXXXIIXXXIIIXXXVIIXXXIVXXXIVXXXVIIIXXXVXXXVXXXIXXXXVIXXXVIXLXXXVIIXXXVIIXXXVIIIXLIXXLVIIIXXXIXLVILIVXLLVIILVXLILVIIILVIXLIILXLVIIIXLIIILXILIXXLIVLXIILXXLVXLVILXXIIILXVIIIXLVIIXLVXLIIXLVIIIXLVIXLIIIXLIXLXXIVLXIXLLXXVLXXLILXXVILXXILIILXXVIIILXXIILIIILXXIXLXXIIILIVLXXXILXXVLVLXXXIILXXVILVILXXXIIILXXVIILVIILXXXVIILXXXLVIIILXXXVIIILXXXILIXLXXXIXLXXXIILXXCIVLXXXVIILXIXCILXXXIVLXIIXCIILXXXVLXIIIXCIIILXXXVILXIVXCVLXXXVIIILXVXCVILXXXIXLXVIXCVIIXCLXVIIXCVIIIXCILXVIIICXCIILXIXCIXCIIILXXCIIXCIVLXXICIIIXCVLXXIICIVXCVILXXIIICVIIIXCIXLXXIVCIXCLXXVCXCIVIIIVIIIXIVNote onXXXVIIIXXVIIIXXXVIXXXIIIXLIXXXVIIIXLIIXXXIXXLIIIXLXLIVXLVIIXLVIXLVIIIXLVIILXLIXLILLIILILIIILIILIVLIIILVXLILIXLVIILXIIILXILXIVLXIILXVLXVIILXIVLXVIIILXVLXIXXLIVLXXXLVLXXILXVILXXIILXVIILXXVIILXXXLXXIVLXXXIVLXXVIIILXXXVLXXIXLXXXVIXCLXXXIIIXCIXCVXCVIICVIXCVIIICVII

It must be admitted that FitzGerald took great liberties with the original in his version of Omar Khayyam. The first stanza is entirely his own, and in stanzaXXXI. of the fourth edition (XXXVI. in the second) he has introduced two lines from Attar. (See «Letters,» p. 251.) In stanzaLXXXI. (fourth edition), writes Professor Cowell, «There is no original for the line about the snake: I have looked for it in vain in Nicolas; but I have always supposed that the last line is FitzGerald's mistaken version of Quatr. 236 in Nicolas's ed. which runs thus:

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